In January 2008, the Province and the City of Victoria approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expedite the development of over 170 new and upgraded social and supportive housing units on three sites – one city-owned and two provincially-owned.

The first city-owned property, at 525 Ellice Street, is currently an under-utilized park. It will be developed with 83 shelter beds and 25 new supportive housing units. Fifty-five existing shelter beds at Streetlink will be relocated to this site. The site will be operated and managed by Victoria Cool Aid Society.

The second provincially-owned property, at 1634 Store Street, is the location of the current Streetlink shelter. It will be redeveloped into 15 new supportive housing units, expanding on the existing 26 units at the adjoining Swift House upon completion of the Ellice St. project. Victoria Cool Aid Society will continue as the non-profit operator.

The third property, a provincially-owned social housing site at 950 Humboldt St., will be redeveloped with 43 new supportive housing units. The site will be operated and managed by Pacifica Housing Advisory Association.

On March 19, 2009, the Province announced $27.4 million in funding to begin construction on of two new supportive housing developments for the City of Victoria identified in the Memorandum of Understanding. The two sites are located at 525 Ellice Street and 950 Humboldt Street. Read the news release.